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Theme Limitations

by AffiliatingAlan
6 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
As im designing my site im starting to notice the limitation of my free theme, only 1 custom menu, not a lot going on. I want to turn this into the top or top 3 site in google. I think its possible given the other sites, are either too busy, too stale, too long or look like copy pastings of user manuals.

Besides functionality is there any negative of free themes? Does google somehow rank them lower or do they cause more "lag" from increased traffic?

If my site became popular would I be forced to upgrade themes?
#limitations #theme
  • Profile picture of the author chaotic squid
    Why would Google rank free themes lower? Sorry, but that doesn't make any sense. Yes, you will have less functionality with free themes, because they're FREE. If you want more functionality cough up the 30-60 bucks to get a theme made my a professional coder.

    You can still do a lot with free/basic themes, you just have to do more with the code to make it fit your needs. There's also a ton of free/paid plug-ins you can get too to enhance your site and add more functionality.

    Also you site will not magically become more popular if you just upgrade your theme, it's all about your content, how well you engage your audience, SEO, social media, etc...
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    • Profile picture of the author forgottenlife
      Originally Posted by chaotic squid View Post

      ...Also you site will not magically become more popular if you just upgrade your theme, it's all about your content, how well you engage your audience, SEO, social media, etc...
      True dat.

      Popularity, does not mean a theme is good or bad. Just that the content is popular.
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  • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
    Originally Posted by AffiliatingAlan View Post

    As im designing my site im starting to notice the limitation of my free theme, only 1 custom menu, not a lot going on. I want to turn this into the top or top 3 site in google. I think its possible given the other sites, are either too busy, too stale, too long or look like copy pastings of user manuals.

    Besides functionality is there any negative of free themes? Does google somehow rank them lower or do they cause more "lag" from increased traffic?

    If my site became popular would I be forced to upgrade themes?
    I always use one of the WordPress.org hosted and developed themes and create a child theme based on one of them. That is in my opinion the best basis for developing a website for any niche.

    TwentyTen -TwentyEleven - TwentyTwelve or TwentyThirteen
    Again it's up to you to develop a sales pitch.


    It only takes 9 lines of code, in your child theme functions.php file, to add a couple of custom menus, you could add dozens it that's what you need.
    PHP Code:
    add_action( 'init', 'register_my_menus' );
    function     register_my_menus() {
    register_nav_menus(
    array(
    'menu-1' => __( 'Menu 1' ),
    'menu-2' => __( 'Menu 2' )
    )
    );
    } 
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    Robin



    ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Besides functionality is there any negative of free themes? Does google somehow rank them lower or do they cause more "lag" from increased traffic?

    If my site became popular would I be forced to upgrade themes?
    Nice collection of some of the worst urban legends about WP...
    Signature

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    • Profile picture of the author AffiliatingAlan
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      Nice collection of some of the worst urban legends about WP...
      It was all questions not statements. I was under the impression maybe bad coding or free themes are less secure causing slowing of traffic?

      idk i just figured like everything in life you get waht you paid for
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      • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
        Many of the free themes are much better than some $$ themes I have seen. Especially if you stay with those hosted on WordPress.org.

        You can get a sense of well a theme works and if it is supported by examining the reviews and the support section on the WordPress site.

        I haven't tried this theme, WordPress › Support » Omega but looking at the support, you can see that the theme author is responding promptly to nearly all of the requests.

        Also they don't make use of obfuscated code, so if you decide to make modifications, you are free to do so.
        Signature

        Robin



        ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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